Oct 29, 2024
GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS ATLAS AT COP16: A LANDMARK TOOL FOR ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS ATLAS AT COP16: A LANDMARK TOOL FOR ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
FAQs
1. What is the Global Ecosystems Atlas, and why was it launched at COP16?
The Global Ecosystems Atlas, introduced at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on October 22, 2024, is an innovative tool developed by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). It is designed to map, monitor, and evaluate ecosystems across the globe, offering valuable insights to support biodiversity, address climate change impacts, and manage land degradation.
2. How does the Atlas function, and what are its core features?
The Atlas combines national ecosystem data, advanced Earth observation technology, artificial intelligence, and field data to create a cohesive global picture. It provides consistent information for various ecosystems, including terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, aligning with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Global Ecosystem Typology. This integration ensures accurate data for ecosystem health, extent, and risks, offering a vital resource for sustainable management.
3. What role does the Atlas play in supporting international conservation goals?
By providing tools to monitor and track ecosystem health, the Atlas helps nations meet their commitments under international frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Governments can use it to track biodiversity indicators, such as ecosystem status and protected area coverage, ensuring compliance with global biodiversity and sustainability targets.
4. Who benefits from the Global Ecosystems Atlas, and how?
The Atlas is a resource for governments, businesses, local and Indigenous communities, civil society, and financial institutions. Policymakers can use the data for ecosystem management, while businesses integrate ecosystem risk data into their strategies. Local communities, particularly Indigenous groups, gain insights to restore and protect ecosystems, and development banks can use it to align investments with sustainability objectives.
5. Can you give an example of the Atlas’s impact on conservation efforts?
South Africa and Mozambique are examples where the Atlas has facilitated cross-border conservation. These countries share vital ecosystems, such as savannas and coral reefs, which benefit from collaborative monitoring through the Atlas. By using shared data, they can coordinate conservation efforts to protect biodiversity hotspots and mitigate environmental threats.
6. What technologies power the Global Ecosystems Atlas?
The Atlas uses Earth observation systems, artificial intelligence, and extensive field data to provide high-resolution ecosystem mapping. This advanced technological framework fills data gaps, offering reliable and consistent data to help countries achieve comprehensive conservation efforts.
7. How does the Atlas contribute to sustainable development and investment?
Development banks and financial institutions can leverage the Atlas’s data to make informed, eco-friendly investment decisions. Aligning projects with sustainability goals is now feasible, supporting both conservation and economic development. Local communities, in turn, gain access to ecosystem data that aids in restoring and protecting natural habitats, linking ecological health to community livelihoods.
8. Why is the Global Ecosystems Atlas significant for future environmental decision-making?
This Atlas offers accessible, reliable data on biodiversity, essential for addressing the urgent issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation. It allows policymakers, conservationists, and investors to make informed decisions that sustain ecosystems and improve resilience against environmental threats.
“Conserving ecosystems today is an investment in life for future generations.”